Page 81 of Under an Endless Moon

If I didn’t know.

If I didn’t recognize the way her heart sped whenever I was near.

The way the energy shifted and intensified. Desire distinct in the depths of those ink-kissed eyes.

This attraction that blazed.

But it wasn’t quite that simple.

It was deep and earnest.

Easy and light with the familiarity we’d always shared.

Sweet with the friendship we’d forged.

Bruised with the grief and pain we’d suffered.

It was close to two decades of history.

But I could never go there.

Could never take my best friend’s little sister, the one woman I’d been forbidden to touch.

Swear it.

Could still hear the finality of those two whispered words bang in that closed-in hall where River had had me backed against the wall.

Could still feel the rattle of the oath I’d made.

Nine years older than her, the guy who’d sworn to be nothing more than her protector.

But more than that? It was who I was. Who I’d become in that grief and contempt that would forever rage inside me.

I was the last fuckin’ guy to deserve Raven Tayte.

Hell, that cum-stain Tanner was better than me, even though I wanted to tear my hair from my head when I thought of him touching her.

When I thought of anyone touching her.

Thoughts spiraling, I forced myself to head into my room. I didn’t know if it was any safer in there with all of Raven’s things around. My bed made to perfection with a giant fluffy white pillow in the shape of a heart sitting against the headboard. The old mirror I’d given her years ago safely stowed on the nightstand.

Her shoes in my closet.

Her fuckin’ birth control pills sitting on the counter in the bathroom.

Nearly came unglued when I saw a pair of black lace undies just sitting on the floor.

I tried to block the visions but it was impossible as I stepped into the spray.

And I gave myself over.

Letting the fantasies of her invade.

Her spread out on my bed, all naked curves and delicate flesh. Me exploring every damned inch of that beautiful body.

Adoring and devouring.

Fuck. The ways I would have her.

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